Lahore, June 29, 2021 (PPI-OT): Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has said a special investigation team was constituted by the Punjab government to investigate the Johar Town blast as it was a test case to identify and apprehend the terrorists and their facilitators.
The CTD investigated scientifically and the perpetrators of the blast were identified within 16 hours. All the international and local actors have been identified and terrorists have been arrested within four days by conducting raids in different areas. All the terrorists involved in recce, installation of explosive material, blast, as well as the buyer of the vehicle and its handing over, have been arrested which is a big achievement of the Punjab government.
While addressing a presser at his office on Monday, the CM said three persons lost their lives and 22 others were seriously injured in the Johar Town blast. The explosive material was fixed in the backside of the vehicle and police as well as the CTD was sent quickly after the explosion. Similarly, the ministers were deputed to ensure the best treatment for the injured and I also went to Jinnah Hospital to inquire after the patients, he added. It was a challenge and we are thankful to Almighty Allah for achieving success, he added. Meanwhile, no alert was issued with regard to such an occurrence and financial aid is being given to the injured and the martyrs’ heirs.
The CM also extended congratulations to the police, CTD and law enforcement agencies adding that all the pieces of evidence have been gleaned from the local terrorists which prove that international characters are involved in terror financing of this terrorists’ network. According to the facts, an agency of the enemy country is directly involved in this activity and it provided all the financial support to this network.
The CM expressed the satisfaction that the Punjab government has traced all the high-profile cases and criminals have been brought under the net of the law. Similarly, Punjab Safe Cities Authority is best performing and its cameras have also been replaced. The requirements of PSCA will be met on a priority basis, he added.
IG Police Inam Ghani said he also examined the crime scene and Punjab police and the CTD successfully dug out the whole network of terrorists. All the members of this network are under the custody of the law; he added and disclosed that ten Pakistani male and female citizens, attacked with this network, have been arrested. The mastermind has also been identified, he said. A joint investigation team is conducting investigations and arrested criminals will be given exemplary punishment.
To a question, he said no criminal is included in the fourth schedule. The vehicle snatched in 2010 was recovered in 2011 and now it was being used on ‘superdari’ (custody). One arrested criminal from KPK fluently speaks Punjabi, he said. The police stopped this vehicle and checked it at a picket and its footage is available. The last terrorist activity occurred in Punjab in November 2020 and now the Johar Town blast was aimed at creating a bad international image. However, the police and CTD worked hard to trace and arrest the terrorists, concluded the IG. Law Minister Raja Basharat, SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, ACS (Home), Additional IG CTD and others were also present.
For more information, contact:
Office of the Chief Minister of Punjab
8-Club Road, GOR-I, Lahore, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-99205562-3
Fax: +92-42-99205561
Website: https://cm.punjab.gov.pk/